Despite rumors of a transfer to Stoke City in England, Jack Harrison is still training with New York City FC and thereās a chance, NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said, that he stays in New York.
āThere is a possibility for him to stay, the same way thereās a possibility for him to go,ā Vieira said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday. āBut at the moment heās here, heās working really hard and Iām really pleased with the way heās been conducting himself the last two days, but Jack has always been good.ā
Vieira declined to discuss Stokeās bid, which was reportedly upped to $4.5 million after an initial $3 million move was nixed by NYCFC. He referred those matters, and talk that perhaps other clubs in England are getting in on the Harrison sweepstakes, to Claudio Reyna. The NYCFC sporting director wasnāt on the call and wasnāt made available Wednesday.
"We have a game on the [fourth] of March and heās getting ready for that game,ā Vieira said, referring to the clubās regular season opener at Sporting Kansas City. āAnything else, the club, Claudio, is dealing with it.ā
Harrison, a native of Stoke-on-Trent, had 10 goals and six assists in a sensational sophomore campaign with NYCFC. The winger, who competed for the England U-21 squad last fall, has 14 goals and 13 assists in 55 games in his two-year MLS career.
āI think everyone dreams of playing in the top leagues in Europe,ā Harrison said at MLS media day in Los Angeles Saturday. āObviously growing up in England and everything, itās always been a dream of mine to play in the Premier League, but as of right now Iām still a New York City player.ā
And itās that mentality Vieira said Harrison has had since preseason camp opened Monday in Jacksonville, Florida.
āThe only thing I can tell you is since the first day Jackās been working really well, heās been working really hard,ā Vieira said. āAt the moment, heās with us and his focus is for him to get back physically stronger as he was last year. Heās doing really well.ā